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Gamboa, Feds set up showdown with NMSA
Feds team captain Ronnel Gamboa, right, goes for a baseline drive against DCCA’s Tim Wesley during their playoff game in the 2014 IT&E-DYS Inter-government Basketball League last night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Jon Perez)
The Feds captain was a one-man scoring machine, tallying a game-high 41 points besides his six steals to help the Feds clinch the second finals berth and arrange a title match with Northern Marianas Sports Association at 6:30pm tonight also at the Ada gym.
NMSA earned an automatic trip to the finals after going undefeated in the double-elimination playoff round, capping its impressive performance with a 68-67 squeaker of the Feds last Monday night. NMASA has a twice-to-beat advantage in the finals.
It was a sorry loss for DCCA, which forced a rubbermatch with the Feds for the last finals ticket after cruising to a 101-68 victory over Customs.
Gamboa scattered 25 points in the first two quarters, helping the Feds zoom to a 43-25 halftime advantage. The Feds got its offensive rhythm back after its usual hot start was grounded by the NMSA defense in their playoff match four days ago.
The Feds’ defense was also in full throttle, forcing DCCA to numerous missed shots and turnovers the entire game. It held DCCA to a season-low 3 points in the third quarter and entered the final canto enjoying a comfortable 38-point spread, 66-28.
DCCA fired blanks and most of its points came in the latter half of the fourth period with the final score the only thing to be settled.
Garth Backe added 8 markers and had 4 assists for the Feds, while Juan Camacho and big man Ken McCain combined for 16 points and 17 rebounds. The usually explosive Leo Apelo, who usually backs up Gamboa in scoring, had a quiet 7 markers.
Ed Pangelinan led DCCA’s losing cause with 19 points, while Perry Inos finished with 15 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, and an assist. No other DCCA player scored in double digits with Tim Wesley, who scattered 18 in their win over the Customs the other night, held to 5.
Feds 84–Gamboa 41, Backe 8, Camacho 8, McKane 8, Apelo 7, Deleon Guerrero 5, Ogarto 3, Paras 2, Park 2.
DCCA 49–Pangelinan 19, Inos 15, Wesley 5, Ra. Deleon Guerrero Jr. 4, Ro. Deleon Guerrero 4, Rosario Jr. 3, Manabat 2.
Scoring by quarters: 21-10, 43-25, 66-28, 84-49. (Jon Perez)
